It seems to me that June was always asking Ward why the boys would do this or why the boys would do that and other questions. Did June seem a little ditsy to you?

I don't think June was ditsy. I thought she was somewhat overprotective toward Wally and Beaver.

Its called being a mother

Also June was raised by her Aunt Martha so she grew up in a household with only women. So she has to rely on Ward for information as to what is typical/normal for boys since she has no reference point from her own life or experience.

That's right she was always getting Ward's take on what his father would have done. She always prefaced her question with "would your father have called the teacher and paved the way for you?" "Would your father have taken the time to do this or that?" And the answer was always the same. No Way. How about when Ward got Billy Payton's father to take Nick the Horse to his farm for $10 a month. June says "You know you're a very wonderful father."

I agree with the Tankeryanker. I mean let Ward handle it. Yes, its called being a mother but I mean you dont have to smother Wally and the Beaver.

I don't think June was ditsy. I thought she was somewhat overprotective toward Wally and Beaver.

I always got that impression, too, that June was more strict than Ward.

June: "Ward, I don't like Wally (driving a car, etc.)"

Ward: "Now, June, what's the harm?"

June really didn't understand boys how they wanted to get their license, buy a car, go away with the guys for a weekend, go to the all night party. Ward understood much better. I think June shouldn't have gotten so neurotic when Wally wanted to get his driver's permit. She didn't even think the boys should invest in the stock market. If it were up to June Wally would have never gotten his license. She was right about Marlene, box office attraction.

Also June was raised by her Aunt Martha so she grew up in a household with only women. So she has to rely on Ward for information as to what is typical/normal for boys since she has no reference point from her own life or experience.

Plus she went to an all girls school.

If Ward wasnt around I dont think June would allow them to do anything. I think Wally and the Beaver would just sit in there room all day which it seemed like they did a lot anyway.

It seems to me that June was always asking Ward why the boys would do this or why the boys would do that and other questions. Did June seem a little ditsy to you?

It was the 1950s and women were supposed to defer to their husbands on all matters. He made all the final decisions. Even when Beaver got in trouble at school, the principal would call the house, June would answer the phone, and the principal would ask to speak to Ward. After all, "father knows best." The husband was "king of the castle." The pilot for The Dick Van Dyke Show was actually titled Head of the Family and referred to the husband. It's hard to imagine now, but that's the way things were then.

It was the 1950s and women were supposed to defer to their husbands on all matters. He made all the final decisions. Even when Beaver got in trouble at school, the principal would call the house, June would answer the phone, and the principal would ask to speak to Ward. After all, "father knows best." The husband was "king of the castle." The pilot for The Dick Van Dyke Show was actually titled Head of the Family and referred to the husband. It's hard to imagine now, but that's the way things were then.

I agree and I think that's one of the sweetest things about June - it was her way of trying to understand her boys. I can't explain it, but Ward and June had this sweet connection (Hugh and Barbara had this awesome chemistry) and they made it all believable that they were really married and in love. I will admit she did tend to go overboard with the license thing and especially when Beaver wouldn't eat the brussel sprouts, but I just think it was just one of her enduring traits.

Right June was a mother 24/7. Ward was a father when he got home from the office. Sometimes I think June asked a lot of Ward like when he rented the parrot and spend $7.50 on an orchid. June was so funny when she was headed to the park or wherever to stop a fight that Beaver had scheduled in Beaver's Fortune. Ward comes down during a shave to stop her.

I was just thinking about this the other day! Lol as a housewife and mother myself, I love her character because I can relate. But I was thinking while watching it the other day "man she asks a lot of questions...." like she doesn't understand what is going on in any particular scenario. I think the writing for her got a bit more rounded as the seasons went on though.

I agree and I think that's one of the sweetest things about June - it was her way of trying to understand her boys. I can't explain it, but Ward and June had this sweet connection (Hugh and Barbara had this awesome chemistry) and they made it all believable that they were really married and in love. I will admit she did tend to go overboard with the license thing and especially when Beaver wouldn't eat the brussel sprouts, but I just think it was just one of her enduring traits.
It's funny when people try to say how submissive June was and use that as a feminist argument. I'm like "have you seen the show?" lol she's actually a really good balance of a representation of a 50s woman who also has very strong opinions on parenting. It's a difficult task to balance traditional family/traditional gender roles and also having strong opinions when you are the wife/mother. Let me tell you from experience!

Welcome to the board!!.:wave:

I thought June was kind of flighty. I mean I understand being a mom but you can't smother Wally and the Beaver. Constantly hovering. They have to live there lives and sink or swim on there own.

Welcome to the board!!.:wave:

I thought June was kind of flighty. I mean I understand being a mom but you can't smother Wally and the Beaver. Constantly hovering. They have to live there lives and sink or swim on there own.
Hi! Thank you for the welcome! Nice to be here. Ok, I've actually given the a lot of thought. June was raised differently than me. I was raised in the country in the 90s. June went to a boarding school in a probably well to do family assuming by her societal understandings and manners. I think I'm a lot like June in personality, I'm a mother of two boys and a traditional wife/housewife. So I see a lot of similarities and might see myself in her in one episode, but the next, I'll be like "I'd probably just let my kids learn by themselves" or in their own way. As in not hover over them so much. But, like I said, I grew up in the country on a farm in Texas. Kids weren't babied that much, especially boys who were expected to be strong and independent. But, I definitely relate to her as a mother of two boys, so I don't think she was flighty at all, just a mother.

Like many/most people, many of June's questions were not really questions; instead they were introductions to the subject to get Ward's view before she gave her own. In one case-- when Wally and Eddie were trying to fix Lumpy's care because of their revenge practical joke gone awry-- she first asked, "Ward, do you think this may be too big a job for Wally?" Ward answers something like 'it's a good way for find out.' Then she drops the question mark and says plainly, "Ward, I think this is too big a job for Wally."

Her other common way of setting up a springboard was to begin with "Ward, I don't like the idea of...."

Cut me some slack, Jack!

Like many/most people, many of June's questions were not really questions; instead they were introductions to the subject to get Ward's view before she gave her own. In one case-- when Wally and Eddie were trying to fix Lumpy's care because of their revenge practical joke gone awry-- she first asked, "Ward, do you think this may be too big a job for Wally?" Ward answers something like 'it's a good way for find out.' Then she drops the question mark and says plainly, "Ward, I think this is too big a job for Wally."

Her other common way of setting up a springboard was to begin with "Ward, I don't like the idea of...."
That is such a good point!